Quiz: Can You Identify These 40 Flowers in Five Minutes?: HowStuffWorks

Can You Identify These 40 Flowers in Five Minutes?

SCIENCE

By: Tasha Moore

6 Min Quiz

Image: John Kuczala/DigitalVision/Getty Images

About This Quiz

Cultivate your grasp of flower knowledge with our blossom ID challenge! Your love of nature's best blooms will pay off here. Within a span of five minutes, do you think you can recognize the plants in the images we provide? We'll be really impressed if you can name them all!

We've arranged a digital flower bouquet just for you. There are hybrids, seeded and bulb blossoms to feast your eyes on in this quiz. Knowledge of plants that are native to certain regions of the world will lead to hints regarding best climates for ideal growing conditions. Tropical flowers tend to sprout petals that cast exotic shades. When you see a striking shade, chances are the flower grows well in hot environments. Hibiscus is a fussy flower that flourishes in certain island habitats. Mimic semi-dry, hot conditions for the plant and it will respond with strong tree sprouts.

And don't let the bloom shapes fool you! Flower favorites, like hydrangea, yield a small variety of shapes depending on the type. Distinct colors may betray you as well. Fragrant lilies are not always white. And don't be surprised if you notice a black flower in the shape of an iris, because it just might be a black-bearded iris!

Increase your score as you inhale the fragrant smell of flower victory. Scroll through and label fast!

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Plant this flower in full sun for best results. Can you choose the right option?

Daffodil

Balloon Flower

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Lady's Mantle

Introduced in 1923, the February Gold daffodil is the most popular in the world. The large-cupped flower grows one per stem and blooms as high as 12 to 14 inches. This variety of daffodil plant is classified as cyclamineus.

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Name this plant that comes in many colors?

Peony

Shooting Star

Daisy

Tansy

Daisies are known to signify innocence. Annuals can survive in narrow growth environments, and perennial types yield other vivid colors besides white, like red, purple, blue and pink.

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Is it difficult for you to notice the flower named for a water mammal?

Canna

Thunbergia

Delphinium

Cardinal Flower

The name delphinium comes from the Greek "delphis," which means "little dolphin." The flower grows bountifully in mountainous terrain. Except for dwarf delphinium types, many of these plants have feeble roots.

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This flower blossoms throughout the spring and summer seasons. Guess which one it is?

Shirley Poppy

Alstromeria

Chrysanthemum

Gaura

As cut flowers, alstromeria lasts for weeks in fresh water. Supermarkets and florists sell the Alstromeria aurea for this purpose. The flower is said to represent fortune, affluence and success.

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This blossom is native to Africa and abundant in the Southern United States. Quickly choose the right option?

This flower blooms best in hot climates. What's the right name?

Heliotrope

Coneflower

Bugleweed

Hibiscus

Hibiscus flowers thrive under direct sunlight in a semi-arid climate. You'll find similar climate conditions in the U.S. state of Hawaii and the Southeast Asian country of Malaysia where the hibiscus is the state and national flower, respectively.

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Different cultivars of this plant bloom in many colors. Choose the name among the options?

Coneflower

Cosmos

Iris

Periwinkle

Over 200 species of iris grow naturally and thousands of hybrids exist. Popular iris cultivars include Japanese, spuria, aril, bearded and yellow flag. The original yellow and purple flowers bloom earlier than the bigger hybrids.

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It's an old-fashioned flower prevalent in England. How easy is it for you to guess the correct blossom?

Canterbury Bell

Lavender Cotton

Perennial Flax

Bergenia

Canterbury bells have two-inch blooms that are shaped like bells with curvy edges. Different types of the flower grow as high as two to two and one-half feet tall and blossom 12 to 18 inches wide. Common flower colors are blue, pink and white.

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Do you recall the name of the flower with a long stem and clusters of purple "explosions"?

Osteospermum

Pasque

Sea Holly

Allium

Allium flowers resemble frozen fireworks. The more popular types, like Allium giganteum, grow tall and are a Holland import. You'll notice that many stores will sell alliums as potted plants.

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The ancients were hip to the fragrance power of this plant flower. Do you know its name?

Aconite

Columbine

Lavender

Browalia

The ancient Greeks and Romans used fragrant lavender for personal grooming and household needs. The attractive flower can bloom as tall as 30 feet on the Natchez tree, or as short as five to 10 feet on the Tonto, or even smaller on the bright-purple Centennial dwarf.

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Cone is one shape of several for this blossom. Can you guess the correct label?

Pearly Everlasting

Pentas

Hydrangea

Sea Lavender

Cone-shaped flowers of this kind include Tardiva hydrangeas and oakleaf hydrangea, whose stems peel around the stem's bottom. Old-fashioned bigleaf hydrangea are either mopheads or lacecaps and bloom vivid shades of blue or pink.

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Leave this plant alone and it'll spread out. What do you call it?

Buttercup

Aubrieta

Lily of the valley

Delphinium

A common meaning for the lily of the valley flower is "return of contentment." The elegant plant can spread out as much as 50 feet long and 15 feet wide when left alone. Gardeners who want to diversify ground cover for shade often turn to lily of the valley.

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Be patient when trying to grow this short flower. Can you name it?

Gaura

Foxglove

Lupine

Malva

The spikes of the Digitalis ferruginea, rusty foxglove, bloom 5 feet, but the flower grows less than an inch. This variety is native to southern Europe. The flower's reddish veins on top of the plant's brown color exude a rusty color.

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Can you ID this flower by its photo as fast as you might by its distinctive smell?

Gaura

Shooting Star

Marigold

Sunflower

Few flowers manifest as many petals per bud than the relatively weighty marigold. The flower has a peculiar odor, though not aromatic. When other perennials start to fade, marigolds maintain a consistent countenance and posture.

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What are this puffy favorite flower?

Ageratum

Lemon Balm

Malva

Nasturtium

Perennial ageratums (Eupatorium coelestinum), also called mist flowers or hardy ageratums, bloom abundantly from August until first frost. Annual ageratums are a more typical garden flower than the perennial.

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The medicinal ________ flower is used to treat skin disorders?

Goatsbeard

Calendula

Heliotrope

Lantana

Calendula flower (Calendula officinalis) is widely used medicinally in India and other parts of the world. The fast-growing annual plant helps to heal damaged skin and reduces incidences of inflammation from irritation.

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Do you know this Asian native plant?

Silvermound

Impatiens

Clary Sage

Celosia

Impatiens wallerana is native to the Asian continent and Impatiens balsamina is native to Malaysia and China; both types are garden favorites, although wallerna tends to yield more stunning flowers.

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Do you know the name of this big flowering beauty?

Globe Thistle

Hydrangea

Amaryllis

Lady's Mantle

Amaryllis flowers tend to grow large, so it's wise to grow a group of bulbs at once for more stability. Varieties of the plant include Lemon Lime Amaryllis, Blossom Peacock Amaryllis and Red Lion Amaryllis.

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What special plant blooms at twilight?

Aubrieta

Moonflower

Foxglove

Lily

Of the same family as morning glory, the perennial moonflower (Ipomoea alba) grows fast and lush along vine foliage. And like morning glory, the moonflower's blossoms are trumpet-shaped.

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This flower has a peculiar talent. What's it called?

Lupine

Comfrey

Canna

Leadwort

Pale-purple Lupinus arizonicus grows as high as 24 feet tall, while deep-blue Lupinus sparsiflorus typically grows past 24 feet. The flowers have an uncanny ability to absorb nitrogen, which enables them to thrive in disaster zones.

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Its name is as "superb" as the flowers it blooms. Do you ID this plant?

Scarlet Sage

Chives

Gaura

Catmint

The flower's name is derived from the Greek "gauros," meaning "superb." Gaura belong to the same plant family as willowherbs and evening primrose, and are native to North American dry lands.

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This plant was all the rave in Spain when it was first discovered. How well do you know the label?

Nierembergia

Browallia

Nasturtium

Bee Balm

The annual nasturtium is native to South America and has very little soil needs. The first Spanish explorers took the nasturtium to cultivate in their own gardens, and the flower's appeal spread to France in the 1600s.

There's a good reason why insects appreciate this plant. Guess the name?

Dianthus

Bloodroot

Artemisia

Lantana

Young yellow lantana flowers produce less nectar than mature yellow and red types. The Texas native orange lantana turns a vibrant red as it ages. The pink lantana produces some yellow, white and lavender shades inside its clusters.

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A certain speedy bird adores this bloom. What is it called?

Red Valerian

Bee Balm

Rhododendron

Skunk Cabbage

If you want to lure hummingbirds to your garden, plant the bee balm plant (Monarda didyma), especially the red variety. Extensive hybridizing of the flower for the past few decades has produced a variety of colors.

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The name is derived from Greek. Try to select the exact answer?

Rue

Hepatica

Fountain grass

Diascia

The flower was named from the Greek "hepar," meaning "liver." Hepatica plants are also called liverwort or liverleaf. The flower's leaves are sturdy and survive winter seasons and they usually bloom in May.

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It's called "button" or "globe." What's the official name?

Bleeding Heart

Leadwort

Basket of Gold

Gomphrena

Pink zazzle is a gomphrena hybrid that grows large flowers, which is not a typical trait of the species. Gomphrena are commonly referred to as "bachelor button" or "globe amaranth." The plant can thrive in drier climates.

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Do you quickly identify this flower of the Americas?

Sea Thrift

Snapdragon

Lobelia

Tansy

There are over 300 species of the North American native Lobelia perennial flower. Wetlands, woodlands and stream banks are prime breeding grounds for the colorful species, which prefers moist soil environments.

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You'll notice the ________ in the summer season?

Browalia

Begonia

Hosta

Maiden Pink

Hostas are an infamous multiplying flower. The plantaginea, invincible and summer fragrance species varieties are fragrant. Most Hostas topple over, but the whirlwind cultivar grows sturdy.

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The ________ flower can withstand hot climates?

Cleome

Comfrey

Geranium

Cockscomb

Geraniums are simple to cultivate, and the species has many attributes. For example, rosebud geraniums look like bundles of small rose blossoms, and the leaves of scented geraniums are aromatic.

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White shades of ________ are a reliable breed that grows yearly?

Streptocarpus

Rue

Osteospermum

Bloodroot

A native of South Africa, the osteospermum is a colorful flower species. White osteospermum typically returns year after year, and other colors require more care during the winter months.

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Take your pick of lavender, blue or white for this breed of flower. What is it called?

Rose

Shirley Poppy

Sweet Woodruff

Jacob's ladder

The leaves of the Jacob's ladder (Polemonium caeruleum) sprout like rungs on a ladder. Native to Europe, the perennial flower thrives when placed in partial shade environments and planted in moist soil.

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What's the label for this late summer bloom?

Gas Plant

Mirabilis

Leadwort

Petunia

Leadwort perennials grow late in the springtime. Around mid-August until October, glossy foliage produces blue flowers that turn bronze in the cold. The plant grows best under direct sunlight in moist soil.

The U.S. state of Texas reserves a special name for this flower. What do you tag it?

Lisianthus

Iris

Mirabilis

Primrose

Resilient lisianthus has long grown well and wild under hot climate conditions in places like Oklahoma and Texas, where its called bluebell. Lisianthus flowers bloom in shades of pink, blue, yellow and white.

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Do you recognize the spotted bloom?

Carnation

Cyclamen

Hosta

Mazus

Creeping mazus (M. reptans) spreads as a two-inch tall den of light-green foliage that sprouts clumps of blue-violet flowers during the summer months. The plant thrives under direct sunlight or in partial shade. Keep soil well-drained for optimal results.

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You're looking at a flower that's known to promote healing. Can you quickly guess the name?

Snowdrop

Cleome

Boneset

Blackeyed Susan

Boneset (E. perfoliatum) flower in middle to late summer. Sipped as an infused liquid or tea, the plant has been used medicinally to treat digestive issues or to accelerate bone healing.

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Does this image help you conjure the name of the flower that's used for medicinal purposes?

Golden Marguerite

Helconia

Balsam

Perennial Flax

The petals of the balsam flower plant can be crushed and blended with a solvent as a medicinal lubricant to treat and soothe insect stings. The balsam flower is a popular selection for Victorian gardens.

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Choose the name of the plant that has long been an indoor favorite?

Nierembergia

Heliconia

Jacob's Ladder

Spring Snowflake

The nierembergia (Nierembergia hippomanica) perennial flower blooms all summer long, ideally in sun or semi-shade environments. Nierembergia is widely known to be a purple flower but white and blue cultivars also exist.

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This flower shows up first in spring. Can you quickly ID it from the photo?

Aconite

Alstromeria

Hibiscus

Leadwort

Aconite, also referred to as winter aconite, is one of the few true winter flowers that exist. It's a self-nurturing, self-sowing flower that can withstand subfreezing temperatures and snowfalls.

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